The actions of cortisol in the brain are mediated by mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors, which operate in a complementary way in reacting to and recovering from stress. Certain genetic backgrounds and early-life events might, however, cause inappropriate cortisol responses and/or imbalances between the receptors, predisposing to depression later in life.
- E Ronald de Kloet
- Roel H DeRijk
- Onno C Meijer
